Name: Heuchera ‘Southern Comfort’
Type of Plant: There are seemingly hundreds of varieties of the plant we used to call “coral bells” but this has remained one of my favorites. This perennial with peach to butterscotch colored foliage is hardy in Zones 4 to 8. It grows to just over a foot high for me, and half again as wide.
Why I love this: I love ‘Southern Comfort’ because the color is particularly striking in the spring, and the plant is a strong, reliable perennial. I also appreciate how sun-tolerant it is…but ‘Southern Comfort’ does best in part sun or part shade. Plant this where it can be backlit by the rising or setting sun and you’ll be a happy gardener.
The color of this Heuchera changes through the summer. You’ll get a mix of coral and peach leaves early in the summer and these change to copper and gold as the season goes on. Then in the winter the plants turn a deep, rich burgundy.
A Word to the Wise: At this time of year most Heuchera looks kind of winter-worn so either cut most of the leaves off, or selectively trim those that look browned or tattered.
Here is how the young Southern Comfort plants looked in my garden in May.
Later in June, they are a great contrast with the blooming peonies. Note that this garden gets enough sun for good peony bloom, and these Heuchera are happy, happy, happy.
And here are the leaves in March. Not too shabby, right? NOTHING looks great in March, but these are still pretty full and colorful. You can understand why Heuchera is listed as an “evergreen” perennial. Although here, it’s “everburgundy” of course. A great perennial for 12 months of color in the garden!
I have just started adding heuchera to my garden. I bought somewhere around 10 different kinds! I love how they look instead of hostas in my shade garden
CL: The new look to your website is very lush and beautiful (although slow), but I must admit I found information easier to find on the old one. Possibly because there was a kind of index of entries. Or am I missing something?
Thanks for your feedback, Barbara. I’ll look into the speed issue (which varies on different computers as well). Part of the reason you found the old one easier is that everything was spelled out on the side in a long menu…current website design has moved in a much less wordy, cluttered direction, however. People not used to the symbols and condensed, drop-down menus are still adapting. And truthfully, it takes us all time to get used to new things when they change, doesn’t it? This new website is now “mobile-friendly” however, and that is a MUST in website design these days. So that was a huge driving force for the change. I think once you’re used to the new organization you’ll find things more quickly.